Archive for January, 2011

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) is the leading professional forum for science, practice and education in the study of pain. Each year the IASP focuses on an area of importance in the field of pain management. This year’s focus is acute pain, with 2010-2011 being designated as the Global Year Against Acute Pain by the IASP. Acute pain is the most frequent reason why patients visit an emergency department. Unfortunately, inadequate acute pain control is common. If uncontrolled or inadequately controlled, acute pain can result in increased health care costs due to longer hospital stays and a higher liklihood of the development of chronic pain. By raising awareness of acute pain as a significant health care issue, the IASP hopes to lessen the gap between acute pain knowledge and research and current clinical practice.

Click here to access resources and information about acute pain mangement and how to become involved in the IASP Global Year Against Acute Pain.

As we enter a new year, pain is still the #1 reason individuals seek out medical care (American Pain Foundation data). Those who are involved in research, as well as direct caregivers of patients, know that pain is complex and needs to be addressed by a multi-modal and interdisciplinary approach. Let’s take stock of where we are and where we hope to go in 2011. We invite you to comment, discuss and brainstorm ways that we can more effectively manage pain on this site Let’s envision a day when pain is no longer the #1 reason individuals seek medical care.

Happy New Year…may your year be filled with opportunities and possbilities.

Discussion about international collaboration between Xiaoshu Zhu (University of Western Sydney, Australia), Ewan McNichol (PREP program faculty, TUSM) and MS-PREP program graduate and acupuncturist, Kindreth Hamilton